Drugstore Favorites: Mascara!

Have you found yourself asking that question as you shell out $20+ for a single tube of mascara? I know I have. My favorite mascara for the past couple of years has been Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara but at $24 a pop I started to wonder if maybe there was something a little bit cheaper that could compare… So I headed to Target to grab a couple different drugstore brand names to try for a couple of months and see what I thought. And here we are…

I’ll be honest, I picked these mainly because of the cute factor of the tubes. There were so many to choose from with colorful tubes and fancy names boasting thick lashes, long lashes, cat-eye lashes… You name it, it was there! So I grabbed three whose packaging screamed to me “pick me, pick me!”

So judging by the tubes, the No7 was instantly my favorite. I mean, gold glitter sparkles? Need I say more? So naturally, the first one I sampled was in fact the gold sparkle tube. And quite honestly, it was a bit of a let down! I didn’t think it added much of a volume or length boost the first time around. But, as it is with mascara, sometimes the first time using it you don’t get the full effect so I planned to give it a go again before making judgement on it. Only fair, right? I will say that for first impressions I did like the brush and there wasn’t any of the annoying clumping that happens with a lot of brushes.

After using it a few more times I did notice more length and volume that the first time I used it but not a great deal more and I remained slightly disappointed. However… I’m still a sucker for packaging and it is a pretty addition to my vanity make-up arsenal.

Overall No7 didn’t score high from me based on volume or length but it did get bonus points for going on easily, removing easily and not clumping. And cute packaging, definitely cute packaging.

Next up was the L’Oreal and having had used different L’Oreal mascaras before I had a feeling I would like this one as I have in the past. First impression of it was great length and great volume BUT I could tell there would be clumping in the not so distant future. The brush was thick, which is why I think the length and volume were great even on first-time use but when brushes are thicker they tend to pick up even more mascara with each use and this one was no exception. As I continued to use it there is guaranteed VOOM volume and length but the clumping tends to get worse each time. I probably should clean the brush (something I almost never do with mascara brushes, honestly) but if I’m just comparing all 3 across the board treating them exactly the same the clumping is something to make note of. I also think of the 3 of them this one is the hardest to remove. I have to use a separate eye makeup remover to get all of the mascara off.

Overall L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise is a top contender if you’re looking for considerable volume and length. But keep in mind, you may need to clean the brush regularly to keep the clumping at a minimum.

The last one I tried was the Covergirl and I have to say that I was definitely more impressed than I thought I would be with this one. My first impression was the brush was really small. Usually when I see a brush like this it’s great for minimizing clumping but not much else. I was pleasantly surprised to find even after the first time using this one that not only did I notice considerable length and volume but it stayed true to not having any clumping. After using it a few more times I fell in love with it even more. The length and volume I received from this one increased with each use and clumping remained completely minimal, if at all. Easy to apply, easy to remove. The packaging is less than exciting but as they say, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” right? 😉

Overall, Covergirl Super Size Fibers delivered excellent volume and length, minimal clumping and easy to apply and remove. And at the lowest price point of the three, I think it’s definitely a winner!